Trade Talk

Theo Epstein just responded to an E-mail I sent him in regard to the Mark Teixeira trade rumors that have been floating around the past two days. The ESPN report was that Sox and Braves were discussing Teixeira for Kevin Youkilis and Craig Hansen. Asked if there was anything to it, Epstein responded, "No, not at all." (Boston Globe)Comment

The Yankees and Mets are among at least nine teams monitoring the progress of Freddy Garcia as he intensifies his workouts to come back from shoulder surgery. Garcia will begin throwing breaking balls off the mound this week in Miami, according to one of his agents, Ed Greenberg, and as long he avoids setbacks the plan is to schedule a showcase for teams to judge his abilities. Up until this point, Garcia has only thrown changeups and fastballs off the rubber, and Greenberg said his fastball has ranged from 84-87 mph. Greenberg said his client has suffered no pain or setbacks. Besides the Yanks and Mets, the Astros, Rangers, Royals, Red Sox, Phillies, Tigers and White Sox are keeping steady tabs on Garcia, who last pitched in the majors on June 8, 2007. Greenberg said that he does not anticipate allowing a club to negotiate a 2009 option.(New York Post)Comment

It will be interesting whether the Twins try to package Michael Cuddyer and Livan Hernandez in a trade for a slugging third baseman before the July 31 deadline, saving $20 million in guaranteed money to Cuddyer and $2.5 million to Hernandez. Denard Span ($390,000) would replace Cuddyer in right field, and Francisco Liriano ($400,000) would replace Hernandez in the starting rotation. One problem, though: finding a team willing to take on the salaries. The Twins say they haven't had room for Liriano in the starting rotation. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)Comment

The Mets are more seriously considering promoting from within (Fernando Martinez for the outfield, Jon Niese for the rotation, Bobby Parnell or Eddie Kunz if a bullpen arm is needed) then making a trade between now and the July 31 deadline, Omar Minaya told The Post yesterday. The Mets are finding the asking prices for relievers they have interest in, such as Colorado's Brian Fuentes, to be too steep. Because the Mets are more fixated on a righty-hitting outfielder, they have substantially cooled on Seattle's Raul Ibanez, although the organization's top executives like him a great deal. Because they are unwilling to give up a big-time package, Colorado's Matt Holliday can be scratched off the list, and, unless the prices fall substantially, so can Pittsburgh's Xavier Nady. (New York post)Comment

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